Elena

So because multiple people knew she had plans to go look at a car with David Carpenter, when Heather was reported missing to police, his name came up repeatedly. Yeah. But when investigators interviewed him, he just said, I overslept and my card wouldn't work. Like, I didn't see her that day. You know, it's just a coincidence that I'm a violent criminal. And it's easy alibi. I overslept.

So because multiple people knew she had plans to go look at a car with David Carpenter, when Heather was reported missing to police, his name came up repeatedly. Yeah. But when investigators interviewed him, he just said, I overslept and my card wouldn't work. Like, I didn't see her that day. You know, it's just a coincidence that I'm a violent criminal. And it's easy alibi. I overslept.

I didn't see her. Now, at the same time that investigators were looking into his background in the context of the Heather Skaggs case, the composite sketch that had been updated with the help of Steve was finally starting to get some traction. Nice. And the first tip came in from a 69-year-old woman in Ben Lomond, California, named Roberta Patterson.

I didn't see her. Now, at the same time that investigators were looking into his background in the context of the Heather Skaggs case, the composite sketch that had been updated with the help of Steve was finally starting to get some traction. Nice. And the first tip came in from a 69-year-old woman in Ben Lomond, California, named Roberta Patterson.

She reported recognizing the man in the sketch as a man she'd been on a cruise with 26 years earlier. Patterson wouldn't have remembered someone from that long ago, she said normally, but she recalled being very disturbed by Carpenter. And it was David Carpenter. Because he was making her teenage daughter very uncomfortable because he wouldn't stop touching her shoulders. Ew.

She reported recognizing the man in the sketch as a man she'd been on a cruise with 26 years earlier. Patterson wouldn't have remembered someone from that long ago, she said normally, but she recalled being very disturbed by Carpenter. And it was David Carpenter. Because he was making her teenage daughter very uncomfortable because he wouldn't stop touching her shoulders. Ew.

Patterson told a reporter from the San Francisco Chronicle, I just didn't like the guy. It turned out this was not the first time that Patterson had reported this particular man to the police. Years earlier, she called police after seeing a sketch of the Zodiac on TV. Oh, shit. Yeah. We're about to cover that.

Patterson told a reporter from the San Francisco Chronicle, I just didn't like the guy. It turned out this was not the first time that Patterson had reported this particular man to the police. Years earlier, she called police after seeing a sketch of the Zodiac on TV. Oh, shit. Yeah. We're about to cover that.

Now, by the time they called him in for an interview about the disappearance of Heather Skaggs, investigators already suspected him of being involved in the murders at Mount Tam. But in person, he was much less believable as a threat to anyone.

Now, by the time they called him in for an interview about the disappearance of Heather Skaggs, investigators already suspected him of being involved in the murders at Mount Tam. But in person, he was much less believable as a threat to anyone.

Detective Walt Robinson said, "...when he sat down and started talking to Carpenter, the first time he opened his mouth, I thought, my God, this guy can't possibly be involved in the Santa Cruz homicide." In addition to just appearing pretty meek, according to them, like he just didn't seem like, you know, judging a book by its cover, I suppose.

Detective Walt Robinson said, "...when he sat down and started talking to Carpenter, the first time he opened his mouth, I thought, my God, this guy can't possibly be involved in the Santa Cruz homicide." In addition to just appearing pretty meek, according to them, like he just didn't seem like, you know, judging a book by its cover, I suppose.

They were also saying he was struggling to get a single sentence out without stuttering. When they asked about Heather, his response caught their detectives off guard because he said, I hope she hasn't been killed. I hope she hasn't been raped. Right. But they said he stuttered very hard on the words killed and raped. Oh. So that's why it like really hit them.

They were also saying he was struggling to get a single sentence out without stuttering. When they asked about Heather, his response caught their detectives off guard because he said, I hope she hasn't been killed. I hope she hasn't been raped. Right. But they said he stuttered very hard on the words killed and raped. Oh. So that's why it like really hit them.

They were like, first of all, why would you say that? That's just bizarre. And second of all, like why are those words hitting so hard?

They were like, first of all, why would you say that? That's just bizarre. And second of all, like why are those words hitting so hard?

The more he talked, the more investigators started seeing the facade of a mild, awkward man to someone who is clearly very more controlling, manipulative, and cunning. Yeah. To Robinson and his partner, Carpenter's alibi seemed way too perfect. His descriptions were too well rehearsed. Everything was too much.

The more he talked, the more investigators started seeing the facade of a mild, awkward man to someone who is clearly very more controlling, manipulative, and cunning. Yeah. To Robinson and his partner, Carpenter's alibi seemed way too perfect. His descriptions were too well rehearsed. Everything was too much.

So sensing he would need to establish some kind of rapport with the suspect, Robinson told Carpenter that, like David, he had also been forced to take dance classes as a kid and would often get made fun of by his peers.

So sensing he would need to establish some kind of rapport with the suspect, Robinson told Carpenter that, like David, he had also been forced to take dance classes as a kid and would often get made fun of by his peers.